General Truck Repair
April 11, 2022

4 Signs Your Truck Needs Maintenance From A Good Diesel Truck Repair Shop

When it's time to replace an old engine, this article will show you what to look for. Check out our tips to avoid diesel engine repairs if your engine is brand new.

Diesel truck undergoing maintenance

Owners of diesel trucks take care of their vehicles for their long life and better performance. We've got you covered, whether your truck is used for long-haul transportation, agricultural labor, construction equipment transfer, or just delivering you to the job site every day. Your truck is crucial to your business's success. As a result, maintaining your vehicle should always be a priority. Work comes to a halt if your truck breaks down. The first step in providing long-term care for a vehicle is recognizing the warning indications that it needs a new diesel engine.

When it's time to replace an old engine, this article will show you what to look for. Check out our tips to avoid diesel engine repairs if your engine is brand new. However, if the miles on your vehicle are beginning to build up, this list may be the wake-up call it needs.

1. Metal shavings found in oil or oil sludge 

Oil sludge is readily spotted in your truck's engine by chaining of thickness. If you discover this problem, the engine's components aren't adequately oiled. Wasted oil, dirt, and even coolant become mixed up with the oil, causing this. This is the most obvious indicator of a worn-out engine.

The presence of metal shavings in the lubricant is another warning indicator. Small metal fragments are easily dispersed across components when oil is poured through the engine. If there are metal shavings in the oil, the chances that the engine components have been damaged are pretty high.

2. Problems with starting the engine 

Low compression is one of the possible reasons of a diesel engine cranking but not starting. Compression is required to start and operate diesel engines. The engine will not create internal explosions if the pressure is not correct.

Older components will wear out and create difficulties with the chamber's seal. This indicates that at least one part of your combustion chamber has failed.

It might be several various things. Everything is made of metal, from a piston to a cylinder wall or liners to valves. If this is the cause of your difficulties, it will become worse after sitting or in hot weather. Although this isn't the only reason a diesel engine could have trouble starting, a compression test will reveal whether it is.

3. White or blue smoke coming out from the exhaust 

The blue smoke coming from the exhaust indicates that the engine is burning oil, suggesting that diesel fuel is flowing in the wrong direction and into your crankcase.

If the smoke is white, either coolant is seeping into the engine, or your gasoline is totally burned out. If you ignore these early warning indicators, you'll need a new diesel engine sooner rather than later. Though smoke from the exhaust is natural, understanding what various colors of smoke imply might help you spot issues sooner.

4. New diesel engine makes a knocking sound

Any new sound from your engine that appears nowhere is usually an unfavorable omen. A loud banging that grows stronger when the engine is revved might spell trouble for a diesel engine.

Damaged liner seals, main bearing wear, a worn piston skirt, or malfunctioning fuel injectors are all possible causes of engine banging. Diesel engines are notoriously noisy and with good reason, but if new noises emerge without a clear source, it's time to get the engine evaluated.

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